New Haven - It was an otherwise innocuous exchange of pleasantries during Saturday's CIAC State Open wrestling championships, two coaches saying hello, something that happens all the time in a sport that breeds some sense of cordiality off the mat.

But when Danbury coach Ricky Shook went over and talked to Bacon Academy counterpart Michael Voiland late in the semifinal round, with the State Open title still very much up for grabs for the first time in a long time, there was a sea change in the air.

Just a week after Danbury saw its 14-year run on Class LL state championships ended, Bacon emerged to win the program's first State Open championship and snapped the Hatters' Open run at 10 years.

Bacon won with 98 points followed by Hand of Madison with 91.

Danbury had won every State Open since the CIAC re-implemented team scores in 2001.

"You can't stay on top forever," Voiland said after shaking Shook's hand once the Bobcats clinched. "If you don't keep growing, someone will catch you."

Devin Covone (160 pounds) and Aren Norman (189) won individual titles for Bacon, which won its second straight Class M tournament a week ago.

Griswold's Brandon Walsh was the other local winner at 135 pounds. Norwich Free Academy's Nick Cipriano fell in the 152-pound final.

Bacon, Hand and New Milford, which finished third, battled each other throughout, with the three teams separated by just six points heading into the finals.

"We saw when Xavier won LLs it would be a real open Open and it was a battle," Covone said.

Bacon clinched the win when New Milford's Conor Kirkegard won a 1-0 decision over Hand's William Crisco at 103.

"Honestly, we never really talked about winning this until probably halfway through this week," Norman said. "We knew if we came down and wrestled our best, we'd have a legitimate shot. This was our dream, me and a bunch of seniors. It's amazing, one of those dreams come true."

A week after winning their second straight Class M championship, the Bobcats have come a long way in 10 years.

"This tournament has been Danbury's forever," Griswold coach Dana Cooke said. "It's nice to see an ECC school win. We always say ECCs are so hard and then you get here and Danbury's on top. Bacon's program has been growing leaps and bounds the last couple of years and it's great to see them win."

When Danbury started their 10-year run, Voiland was in his first year coaching a team with just 10 kids that finished 2-26.

"It's been a long 10 years," Voiland said. "I really didn't know a lot about coaching when I started. I knew a little about wrestling. I just kept learning, which is what we talk about with the kids. You have to keep learning and developing. This is just continuing to build something that we think is special."

Walsh wasn't very emotional after his win, the school's first Open title since Tyler Banks and Brock Coutu each won in 2008. Seconds after defeating Cheney Tech's Forest Dolby, he tossed his headgear aside and lamented the loss of his favorite shoe.

"The sole ripped," said Walsh, a runner-up at the Open a year ago. "I've had them since nationals last year. I guess it's time to put them in the trophy case."

Said Cooke with a laugh: "He just won a State Open title and he's worried about a shoe."

Dolby got a quick takedown on Walsh, but the Griswold junior escaped for a point late in the first period and followed with a two-point reversal.

"That's how I like to keep my matches, nice and controlled," Walsh said. "I knew he wasn't going to score again. I knew sooner or later something would happen. It's a matter of patience and working. If something's not working, you keep at it."

o.poole@theday.com